“Every film about a cruise cannot be a Titanic!” leading hero Ajay Devgan laughed when I asked him if his directorial debut, this week’s release ‘U Me aur Hum’, is the Bollywood version of the Hollywood blockbuster. “Only fifty percent of the film is on the ship.”

Like Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’, which dealt with dyslexia, Devgan’s debut intends to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease in India. Is Ajay the new Aamir? “I wouldn’t want to compare myself to anybody. It’s now my turn but I started my film first anyway.” Is Ajay hoping that his film will widen his appeal to global Indian audiences? “I intended to market my film properly in the UK but work was delayed due to a technical problem which resulted in having to redo the sound.”

Devgan’s last four films have not done well at the box-office. Is he nervous about his film’s release? “Cash’ was a stupid and incomplete film; I have not seen ‘Aag’; ‘Halla Bol’ looked dated and ‘Sunday’ did well. Audiences appreciate good films; this is a positive feel good entertainer.”

Kajol’s little support

Lead actress and working mother Kajol appears opposite her real life husband Ajay Devgan in the aforementioned ‘U Me aur Hum’. The actress proved difficult to contact. “Kajol has just gone for a shot,” was the response I got from her manager whenever I phoned her up at my appointed time. What is it like being a super mom and being directed by her actor-husband? Kajol stated: “Nothing is effortless. Execution of the film would not have been easy had we not had such a supportive family especially from my little baby.”

Bachchan biwi turns 60

Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan arrived at London’s Heathrow airport on Monday morning. Dressed in a black coat and wearing trainers, Amitabh waited patiently at the carousel for his luggage to arrive (it did!). Biwi (wife) Jaya, in a red salwar kameez, looked content. They were en route to Miami to join son Abhishek for Jaya’s 60th birthday on Wednesday 9th. The ‘Big B’ stated that today’s milestone birthday will be a low key affair because the family is still in mourning over his mom’s demise. “We’re just going to be with Abhishek for a few days. There will be no celebrations because of the death.”

When Shilpa met the junior B

What is Abhishek Bachchan doing in Miami? The junior B is currently shooting for ‘Dostana’ with John Abraham. Shilpa Shetty makes an exclusive appearance in a dance number. Shetty’s publicist, Dale Bhagwagar, confirms: “Yes, Shilpa is currently shooting in Miami along with Abhishek and John for a really special song. I wouldn’t really call it an item number.”

Failure to launch

‘Khuda Kay Liye’ (In the Name of God), the first Pakistani film to be released last Friday across India since the two countries banned each other’s movies after fighting their second war in 1965, has crashed at the box-office. The Pakistani blockbuster, about two Pakistani Muslims trying to cope after the 9/11 attacks in the US, also failed to ignite the UK box-office when it got a limited release last year.

From Loftus Road to Bollywood?

After Manchester United (‘Goal’), Queens Park Rangers may be the next English football club attempting to woo Indian support via representation in Bollywood films. Amit Bhatia, vice-chairman of the club and son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, the owner of a 20% stake in QPR, revealed his plans for raising the team’s profile in the Indian subcontinent. Bhatia stated: “Most definitely we want to take the club to India. QPR’s profile is getting bigger because there are Indian shareholders. We want to expose QPR to the Indian market and will do that.”

Cannes 2008

Two Indian films are heading for this May’s annual Cannes Film Festival. US Indian born director Jag Mundra’s ‘Shoot on Sight’ centres on the killing of an innocent Muslim lad in London by the police in the aftermath of the July 7 London underground bombings. ‘Guide’ (1960), the Dev Anand classic based on the RK Narayan novel, has also been invited for screening in the World cinema section.

Explore Film

• Film Reviews

• DVD

• Oscars

• Bollywood

Editor's choice

• Gordon Brown’s secret to stayin’ alive
• What’s up with Woody?
• Can Cannes get serious?